As soon as the news went out on May 25, 2011 that Constantine G. Caras, Leadership 100 Chairman, had initiated and received approval of a Leadership 100 grant of $270,000 in support of summer camps for youth across the nation, the calls began coming into the Leadership 100 Office from members and recipients alike praising the timely decision.

Especially moving were letters received the very next day from Rhea Ballas, Metropolis of Pittsburgh Youth and Summer Camp Director and from two high school seniors who had benefited from the Metropolis of Pittsburgh Summer Camp and will benefit from the grant.

As Ms. Ballas put it, on behalf of Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh, “Your generous gift will allow us to continue our mission of leading young people to Christ in an Orthodox Christian environment where they can learn and experience their faith through education, recreation, worship, fellowship and fun.” She noted that this year alone, more than a dozen former campers and counselors from the Metropolis are students at Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology.

Demetrios Constantine, a high school senior active in the youth ministry of St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church in Youngstown, Ohio, who has been accepted to Hellenic College for the Fall 2011, said, “My family and I would like to sincerely thank you for making camp possible for us this year. Camp really means a lot to my siblings and me since we are able to see our friends from all over the Metropolis, worship and grow together in Christ.”

Nathan Myers, a high school senior from Evangelismos Greek orthodox Church in Farrell, Pennsylvania, who plans to attend Penn State University, Shenango campus, said, “When your Faith is the most important thing in your life, not being able to spiritually relate to someone can really feel like a losing battle. That’s why the scholarship money I receive to go to camp is so important to me.”